Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-22
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 81,

WEpNEspAr, Dec. sl.
State VS.. George A. Harrington. L. T,
Carleton for State. Heath and Tuell fol
respondent.
The respondent in this case. charged with
the burning of the Oak Grove Seminary
building adjoining the dwelling house occu.
pied by Charles H. Jones on the night Of
August slst, was placed at the bar and ar
raigned upon the indictment to which he
pleaded not guilty.
A jury was then impanellei by draft, the
counsel for the respondent exercising the
right of challenge in the case of three and
counsel for the government one.
Mr.. Carleton opened for the government
and called and had sworn dozen witnesses.
Charles II. Jones, principal of the school,
called by the government, testified as to the
arrangement of the buildings, of the fire and
of the death of his nephew in the flames. He
testified in substance that the fire when he
first saw it was in the basement of the school
building, which contained the dormitory; !;
that the respondent who was about Is years
old came to the school from Stockton last
spring, brought there by his guardian; tha,
he then talked with the boy who said he had
been in the habit of using profane language
and had been untruthful, but wanted to re-
form and become good boy; that the boy
had been taken into the school with the
knowledge that his previous life had not been
just right; that previous to the fire the res
pondent had been very quiet and reticent AT
the beginning of the fall term he had desired
to study bookkeeping and commercial law,
but witness knew his uniitness to do so and
took from him the books which the boy had
procured for these studies. Upon this the
boy made no comment, and witness was not
aware that he felt very bad about it. except
rather sullen when things didn't silt him,
and he showed for a day or two he didn't
feel just right about il but nothing that the
witness considered dangerous or malicious.
In the spring witness took from the boy
three or four books and told him he could
not allow him 10 read that kind of literature;
that there were good books in the library which
he could have. Witness did not know the
title of any of the books so taken. On cross
examination witness teatitied as to the interi
or arrangement of the school building and the
basement
Dwight c. Hutchins, detective, testified
to going to Brockton and bringing the res
pondent to Vassalboro. He testified in sub
stance that in Portland the boy asked what
witness thought they would do with
him if he owned up about the first fire, and
witness told him he could not tell. The res
pondent then said, ''well, may as well tell
you, burnt the school," That was the
substance. Witness asked him why he did
it, and he said because he didn't want to go
back to school. In answer to a question as
to how he did it he said he walked up when
the pullman train went through and laid
awake until he thought ii about one o'clock.
He then got up, went into the basement and
with some matches lig hted those bags hang
ing over beam and went back to bed and
went to sleep; but he said he didn't intend to
go to sleeps but he dropped off to sleep and
was aroused by the cry of fire and got up
and put on what clothes he could He said
he lost good deal of his clothing in the
fire.
Testimony as to admissions of the respond
ent at the fire inquest was objected to by
counsel for the respondent and the decision
of the Judge was reserved.
Cross examination.-On cross examination
witness testified that he did not tell the boy
that it would be better for him to own up,
nor that he would get off with 500 fine. He
told the boy that he did not know what the
consequences would be to him. In Boston
where they remained few hours waiting for
the eastern train, witness admitted having
taken the boy into refreshment saloon but
denied that it was liquor saloon; that he
there called for and drank lemonade, ginger
ale or ginger beer, and that he could not re-
member which, and that the boy drank lem
onade He denied that he drank whiskey or
that he gave the boy any.
Hall C. Burleigh, called for the govern
ment, testified that after the arraignment of
the re pondent before the lower court he had
a conversation with him in which he asked
him how he felt in regard to the death Of the
little boy that was burned in the fire, and his
reply was that he didn't think anyone would
be burned he thought they would all get
out. He then asked: Suppose innocent
parties had been arrested and there was proof
enough against them to send them to state
prison for the burning what would you have
done?" And be very coldly said II would
have done nothing and let them gone" The
next conversation was as to what books he
had been reading, and he said he had read a
good many dime novels; witness thought he
termed them dime novels. Witness asked
him why he read them, what he expected to
do, whether he wanted to become notorious
and he said that he had such an idea. Wit
ness thought that responder, mentioned thai
he would like to be Jessie James, or woult
like to m axe himself notorious. Had seer
him since in Jail when he seemed unwillin.
to talk.
George II. Ramsell called by the govern
ment testified that he brought the respond
ent from vassalboro to the jail and on thu
way he asked the boy why he set the FIRE
and he replied because Jones put him bacl
in his studies and he did not like that; he has
thought of doing it quite while before. HI
asked what the penalty was, and witness toll
him he didn't know. lie seemed to be sorr,
and asked what the buildings cost, and wa
told about $4,000. The boy then said h
had $4,000 and he would be glad to give tha
if he could restore the buildings. He SAT-
he felt better in his mind after making tn
confession. He said he went down and sc
some rags on fire in the cellar, as witness un
derstood him, and then went back to bed an
to sleep, and was woke by the fire alarm
The boy said he did not think what he wa
doing when he set the fire. He did not mar